Box construction



J. C. MELSON.

BOX CONSTRUCTION.

APPLICATION mm sumac. ma.

Patented Oct. 14, 1919. 7

Qwuewtoz Joan CL/413L505 NQS.

I UNITED STATES PATENT oFFIoE.

JOHN C. MEIQSON', OF EUREKA, GALIFORN IA.

BOX CONSTRUCTION.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 14, 1919.

Application filed September 26, 19-18. Serial No. 255,755.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN C. MELsoN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Eureka, in the county of Humboldt, State of California, have invented a new and useful Box Construction; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exactdescription of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

rThe present invention relates to a corner reinforcement for wooden boxes, and has for its object to provide a device of this character which embodies novel features of construction whereby the side and bottom boards are securely anchored to the end boards and the entire box stiffened and reinforced in such a manner that it will not work loose or come apart.

The invention may housed in connection with any type of box, although it is more especially designed for use upon what are known as lug boxes, such boxes being extensively used in orchards, vineyards, and canneries, and being subjected to very rough handling, with the result that they quickly split and come apart unless they are very heavily reinforced. The repairing of damaged lug boxes and the replacing of destroyed boxes is a very large item of expense on some ranches and estates where a large number of these boxes are used.

Further objects of the invention are to provide a sheet metal corner reinforcement which protects the, corners at the outside of the box and also reinforces the corners on the inside of the box, thereby firmly fastening the walls of the box together andalso bracing the box so that it will be enabled to resist sidevand corner stress without coming loose.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in certain novel combinations and arrangements of the parts as will more fully appear as the description proceeds, the novel features thereof being pointed out in the appended claims. .7

, For a full understanding of the invention, reference is to be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, in which Figure l is an enlarged perspective view of one of the corner braces, one of the end extensions being entirely drawn out of the body portion of the brace.

Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view through a corner of a box which is provided with a brace constructed in accordance with the invention.

Fig. 3 is a detail perspective view of one.

off the vertical corners of a lug box which is provided with the reinforcement, portions bemgbroken away and the transverse strip at the top of the box being shown by dotted Y ventional lug box which includes the end,

boards 1, side boards 2 and bottom boards 3, transverse strips 4 being applied to the ends of the boxat the top thereof and said strips providing a rest' to engage the bottom of a 1 superposed box when a number of boxes are placed in a pile, thereby preventing the upper boxes from crushing or bruising the fruit in the lower boxes. The boxes may be,

of any suitable or convenient size, and are formed of wood with thecorners reinforced in accordance with the present invention.

Applied to the vertical corners of the box are angle iron strips 5 which fit over the ends of the side boards 2 and also overlapv the ends ofthe end boards 1, said angle iron strips preferablyextending throughout the entire width of the end and side boards. One side of the angle iron strip 5 hasthe edge thereof bent inwardly at 6, while the other side is returned to form a channel member 7 which extends the full length of the strip. This channel member is arranged between the two sides of the angle iron strip and extends the full depth of one side in a parallel relation thereto. One of the intersecting corner walls of the box, in the presentinstance the side board 2, is received within the chan nel member 7 while the end board 2 abuts against the side of the channel member and is confined between the other side of the an gle iron strip 5 and a rib S which is pressed outwardly from the side of the channel member. The edge portion of the channel member 7 which extends beyond the rib 8 has a wire 9 secured thereto at an intermedi ate point in its length, as indicated at 10, the extremities of the wire being bent laterally and sharpened to provide prongs 11 which are arranged opposite small openings 12 in the edge portion of the channel member. The wire 9 is normally flexed to withdraw the pron s 11 from the openings 12, as indicated by Big. 1, although after the side board 2 has been properly fitted within the channel member 7, the prongs are tapped with a hammer or like tool and driven into the side boards.

The ends of the angle iron reinforcing strips 5 are provided with angle iron extensions 13 which have a telescoping engagement therewith and are slidable in and out. One side of each of the extensions 13 is slidably received between the channel member 7 and the corresponding side of the reinforcing strip 5, while the other side of the extension is slidably received within the inwardly bent edge portion 6 of the other side of the reinforcing strip. Each extension terminates at the end thereof in a pair of wings 1% which are bent laterally to overlap each other and form a corner fitting, one of the wings 14 being bent around the edge of the other wing as indicated at 14K to provide an interlocking connection between the two wings, while the other wing extends laterally beyond the corner piece so as to obtain an extended bearing upon the box. here the reinforcing strip 5 extends the full depth of the side and end boards, as indicated by Fig. 3, the upper section is telescoped within the reinforced angle strip with the wings 1d fitting against the upper edges of the side and end boards and arranged under the transverse strip a. The lower extension 13 is teleseoped outwardly sufficiently to allow for the thickness of the bottom boards 3, and the wings 14 thereof secured to the lower face of the bottom boards at the corner thereof. The angle iron reinforcing strips 5 with their extensions 13 are interchangeable and can be applied to any vertical corner of the box, being applied in one position at one side of the box, and in an inverted position at the other side of the box. The corner of each extension 13 where the wings 14 intersect is cut away, as indicated at 1 1 and the lower corners of the box are removed to avoid sharp edges which would result in gouging when a number of the boxes are stacked together. At the top of the box the ends of the transverse strips 4: are beveled for the same purpose, as indicated at r.

At the intersection of the bottom boards 3 and the end boards 1, another set of the angle iron strips 5 are provided, the channel members 7 of these strips receiving the bottom boards 3 in the same manner as that indicated by Fig. :2, so that the center of the box is reinforced both on the outside and on the inside and a very strong and rigid construction obtained. Suitable fastening members such as the nails 15 are provided for seciuing the reinforcing strips and angle iron extensions in position, and these reinforcements notonly securely fasten the side and bottom boards to the end boards, but also extend over the edge portions of the boards in such a manner as to anchor them in position and make it impossible for the boards to warp out of shape and split. The corners are completely covered on the outside of the box so that they will not be injured by any blow which may be received while the boxes are being tossed about, and the corners are also protected on the inside of the box. The box is thus securely reinforced and braced so that it is not only impossible for the boards to split and come apart, but strength and rigidity is obtained so that the box can resist side and corner stress without, coming loose.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A corner reinforcement for boxes including an angle iron strip fitted against the outside of the intersecting walls of the box and provided at one side thereof with a longitudinally extending channel member arranged between the sides of the strip and parallel to one side thereof, said channel member opening outwardly to receive one of the side walls of the box and having an open mouth extending continuously from end to end of the strip.

2 A corner reinforcement for boxes including a sheet metal angle strip fitted against the outside of the intersecting walls of the box and provided at one side thereof with a longitudinally extending channel member formed by returning the sheet metal successively in reverse directions, said channel member being arranged between the sides of the strip and opening outwardly to receive one of the side walls of the box.

3. A corner reinforcement for boxes including an angle iron strip fitted against the outside of the intersecting walls of the box and provided at one side with a longitudinally extending channel member arranged between the sides of the strip and parallel to one side thereof, said channel member opening outwardly to receive one of the side walls of the box and being provided upon the inner side thereof with means cooperating with the other side of the angle iron strip to engage the other side wall of the bOX.

4. A corner reinforcement for boxes including an angle iron stripprovided at one side with a longitudinallyextending channel member adapted to receive one of the intersecting walls of the box, andtelesco-ping angle iron extensions applied tothe reinforcing strip. i v

5. A corner reinforcement for boxes including an angle iron strip provided at one side thereof With a longitudinally extending channel member adapted to receive one of the intersecting walls of the box, telescoping angle iron extensions applied to the angle iron reinforcing strip, and wings at the ends of the extensions, said wings projecting laterally and overlapping each other to provide corner pieces.

6. A corner reinforcement for boxes including an angle iron reinforcing strip .provided at one side with a longitudinally extending channel member arranged between the sides of the strip and parallel to one side, the reinforcing strip fitting on the outside of the intersecting Walls of the box with the channel member receiving one of the said walls, an angle iron extension having a telescoping engagement with one end of the reinforcing strip, and a corner fitting at the end of the extension.

7. A corner reinforcement for boxes including an angle iron reinforcing strip formed of sheet metal and having one side returned and shaped to form a longitudinally extending channel member arranged between the sides of the strip and parallel to one side, the angle iron reinforcing strip fitting on the outside of the intersecting walls of the box with the channel member receiving one of the said walls, and an extension having a telescoping engagement with an end of the reinforcing strip and sliding between the sides thereof and the channel member.

8. A corner reinforcement for boxes inoludmg an angle iron strlp formed of sheet metal and having one side thereof returned and shaped to form a longitudinally extending channel member, while the other side thereof has the edge bent inwardly, the angle iron reinforcing strip fitting on the outside of the intersecting Walls of the box with the channel member receiving one of the said walls, and an angle iron extension having a telescoping engagement with one end of the reinforcing strip, one side of the extension sliding between one side of the strip and the channel member, while the otherside of the extension is engaged by the inwardly bent edge of the other side of the reinforcing strip.

9. A corner reinforcement for boxes including an angle iron strip provided at one side with a longitudinally extending channel member, the angle iron strip fitting on the outside of the intersecting walls of the box with the channel member'receiving one of the said walls, and a rib projecting outwardlyfrom the channel member for engaging the "inner face of the other wall of the b I 10, A corner reinforcement for boxes including an angle ironstrip provided at one side with a longitudinally extending channel member arranged between the sides of the strip and parallel to one side thereof,

the angle iron strip fitting on the outside of the intersecting walls of the box with the channel member receiving one of the said walls, and a longitudinal rib projecting outwardly from the inner side of the channel member and engaging the inner face of the other end wall of the box.-

11. A corner reinforcement for boxes including an angle iron strip provided at one side with a longitudinally extending channel member, the angle iron strip fitting on the outside of the intersecting walls of the box with the channel member opening outwardly and receiving one of the said walls, and a normally retracted prong carried by the channel member adapted to be driven into the box.

12. A corner reinforcement for boxes including an angle iron strip provided at one side with a longitudinally extendingchannel member arranged between the sides of the strip and parallel to one side thereof, the angle iron strip fitting on the outside of the intersecting walls of the box with the channel member receiving one of the said walls, a rib projecting outwardly from the channel member and engaging the inner face of the other wall of the box, and fastening means carried by the channel member for engaging the box. a

13. A corner reinforcement for boxes including an angle iron strip provided at one side with a longitudinally extending channel member having an opening in the inner side thereof, the angle iron reinforcing strip fitting on the outside of the intersecting walls of the box with the channel. member receiving one of the said walls, and a flexible arm carried by the reinforcement and provided with a sharp prong normally positioned over the opening in the channel member and adapted to be driven through the said opening into engagement with the box.

14. A corner reinforcement for boxes including an angle iron strip provided at one side with a longitudinally extending channel member arranged between the sides of the strip and parallel to one side thereof, the angle iron reinforcing strip fitting on the outside of the intersecting walls of the box with the channel member receiving one of the said walls, a rib projecting outwardly from the channel member at a point spaced from the edge portion thereof and engaging the inner face of the other wall of the box, said edge ortion of the channel mernname. to thisepeeifieetion in the presen her haying an opening therein, and a flexl- 01" two subscnblng wltnesses. ble strlp earned by the relniorcement and provided with a shhrp prong normally posi- JOHN MELSON' 5 tioned over the said opening and adapted. to Witnesses:

be driven through the same into the box, JAMES C. MELSON,

In testimony whereof I have signed my D. BARRY.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents.

washlngtomn; G. 

